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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which object in the story entitled "The Back Room" serves as a symbol of youth and beauty?

2. To whom does Muttsy declare his singular devotion in the story named after him?

3. Jazzbo's father expresses dismay at his son's desire to seek a wife in which location?

4. With what object does Sykes scare his wife Delia in the opening passages of the story entitled "Sweat"?

5. Who pays the rent at the dwelling where Bertha lives, according to the narrator of "Sweat"?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way is foreshadowing associated with the portrait featured in the story "The Back Room"?

2. For what reason does Hurston use a Biblical allusion to rename New York City in the story entitled "Book of Harlem"?

3. What is the significance of the title Hurston gave to the story called "Sweat"?

4. Who is the protagonist of the story "The Book of Harlem" and what qualities does he exhibit?

5. From what location does Pinkie hail and why is this fact significant?

6. The story entitled "Book of Harlem," not to be confused with the story "The Book of Harlem," focuses on what kind of journey?

7. Who is Daisy Taylor?

8. How does Muttsy make his living in the story named after him in Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick?

9. Who is Ma Turner, according to the story entitled "Muttsy" and other stories?

10. What aspect of Joe Clarke's personal life is discussed only in the story entitled "The Eatonville Anthology"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the theme of hypocrisy treated within Hurston’s text and with which of the text’s messages does the theme closely connect?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Hurston's purpose for juxtaposing at least two different locations in a particular way within the text of Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick.

Essay Topic 3

Examine the role of family within the text Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick. What types of family relationships are represented and how does Hurston use their variety to inform many of the stories’ themes?

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